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Posted: 9/13/2016 7:27:47 PM EDT
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What has the hive found to relate to accuracy more in any given barrel. The weight of the bullet or the powder charge with any given brand of powder.
I honestly don't know if that question is answerable. |
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E: other.
Seriously, some barrels "prefer" certain loads that shoot like crap in other barrels. Generally speaking, loads that have certain qualities for a particular barrel length and contour will be more accurate - but that's all that can be reasonably states as "true." Basically the weight of the bullet controls the velocity range with any powder. Since some powders generate different pressure curves than other powders, there's no 1:1 correlation in this. The accuracy gurus look for accuracy "nodes," where a particular velocity with a particular bullet produces better accuracy because the vibration of the barrel (due to the forces involved in pushing th bullet down the barrel) are all balanced (or cancelled) at the muzzle when the bullet exits. Frankly, if it were even close to a situation where there was a simple rule of thumb that applied to more than a single bullet, that would be in Chapter 1 of every loading manual ever made. It ain't so, sadly. |
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Quoted: Good answer. Especially the last sentence that put it in simple terms. I have a 1:8 18 inch barrel that doesn't do well with 55 grain heads with hardly any charge of Winchester 748. I am going to try 62 grain heads to see how they perform. Hollow points or soft points ("ballistic tips" included) should do better. As stated, there are usually two precision nodes - low and high in regards to powder charge/pressure/velocity - where the barrel whips consistently up or down when the bullet exits the muzzle. Freebore length ("jump to rifling"), leade angle, rifling style and dimensions may suit different bullet shapes better. |
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Quoted:
FMJs? Those won't do well. Even Hornadys (the best) are 1-1.5 MOA at best. Hollow points or soft points ("ballistic tips" included) should do better. As stated, there are usually two precision nodes - low and high in regards to powder charge/pressure/velocity - where the barrel whips consistently up or down when the bullet exits the muzzle. Freebore length ("jump to rifling"), leade angle, rifling style and dimensions may suit different bullet shapes better. Quoted:
Quoted:
Good answer. Especially the last sentence that put it in simple terms. I have a 1:8 18 inch barrel that doesn't do well with 55 grain heads with hardly any charge of Winchester 748. I am going to try 62 grain heads to see how they perform. Hollow points or soft points ("ballistic tips" included) should do better. As stated, there are usually two precision nodes - low and high in regards to powder charge/pressure/velocity - where the barrel whips consistently up or down when the bullet exits the muzzle. Freebore length ("jump to rifling"), leade angle, rifling style and dimensions may suit different bullet shapes better. Pretty much agree with this, and even then not absolutely sure of all the science/physics behind it. This question came up on the reloading forum and got some decently earnest discussion. I've only recently gotten more serious in every aspect of my reloadling for 5.56/.223 except for neck turning which isn't that big a deal for 5.56/.223 because of easy, plentiful case availability. One pattern in the commentary was that a quality hollowpoint or ballistic tip bullet loaded in the best balance of powder load for accuracy and not speed seemed to shoot with surprising accuracy across a wide variety of guns and barrel length as long as barrel twist was anything close to reasonable for bullet weight. For example in my case, a Hornady 68g HPBT .223 match bullet with a proper load of Varget shoots with amazing accuracy in several guns ranging from a 9.2" barrel 5.56 pistol to a 20" Wylde barreled rifle. Bullpups, pistols, match barreled rifle...I haven't found one of my rifles that this bullet wouldn't shoot well in. Now, if you're a hardcore match rifle shooter or putting rounds several hundred yards downrange for serious effect, then you're going to want to get into all the minutia of load development and bullet selection down to the smallest element. However, compared to the bulk ammo's like XM193, Wolf Gold, etc., even most serious shooters should be able to find a higher quality developed load or even a good off-the-shelf bullet that provides some really good performance over a wide variety of guns. OP, you used the word "generally" in your initial question. Bullet design, bullet weight, and the right powder and charge weight probably all have equal impact on the final results. It would be hard to single out one element out unless you're going to extremes. |
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